[W1N]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by W1N:
Security alert prompts evacuation of U.S. Capitol and White House. Details soon. There are fighter jets flying over the the Capitol Hill. Why??? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

White House, Capitol evacuated
From staff and wire reports
WASHINGTON — The White House and the Capitol Building were evacuated about noon Thursday after a small plane entered restricted airspace, but the evacuation was lifted about 20 minutes later.

A senior law enforcement official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press the alarm was caused by an aircraft incursion over the protected airspace over Washington but there was no indication a terrorist attack was under way.

MSNBC and CNN also reported that military jets had been scrambled over the skies of Washington. Two F-16 jets had been spotted in the restricted airspace over the White House and the Capitol, CNN reported. The network also reported that the FAA was tracking an unidentified aircraft that flew over the restricted airspace.

Sarah Little, an aide to Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan. said the order to evacuate came over the special pager devices issued to every congressional office.

"They said to head South because there is an imminent aircraft threat," Little said.

Reporters in the White House were told to move to a more secure location.

A guard in the West Wing of the White House shouted at reporters, "Go down into the basement."

"Leave, run," security officers shouted to staff and reporters at the Capitol.

"This is not a drill," guards shouted as they moved people away from the building.

President Bush was not at the White House at the time.

Shortly after noon, officers rushed through the Supreme Court building and told staff to get into the basement. At the Treasury Department, people were moved across the street.